9 Ways to Transform Furniture With Paint

Get inspired to transform an old heirloom or a Craigslist find with these smart project ideas.

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A little can of paint can go long way when applied in unique way, especially to an old piece of furniture that's seen better days. Don't stop at the first coat: be clever with where and how you're painting, and you'll blow your guests away.

THE PROJECT: Ombré Windsor Chairs
Three chairs painted in gradating shades of blue and green come together to form a set that's greater than the sum of its parts.
FURTHER READING:Honey Bear Lane

THE PROJECT: Colorblock Painted Stool
Masked off before being painted, this stool has given a contemporary colorblock effect that looks at home in modern interiors.
FURTHER READING:The Gold Jelly Bean

THE PROJECT: Semi-Gloss Bistro Table
Painted in glossy coral paint, a bistro table becomes a bright and shiny focal point in a Norwegian home.
FURTHER READING:Jelanie

THE PROJECT: Patterned China Cabinet
One crafter went above and beyond simply updating an old china cabinet with a bright new shade: she hand-painted the cabinet backboard with a mod onion-shaped print. No, it's not wallpaper!
FURTHER READING:Sawdust and Embryos

THE PROJECT: Tribal Side Table
Designer Emily Henderson transformed a boring vintage Ikea demilune table by painting it raspberry pink and then making a triangular tribal-pattern stencil using masking tape and two lighter shades of pink.
FURTHER READING:Emily Henderson

THE PROJECT: Reverse Stencil Dresser
One of FLOR's blog contributors applied a custom-designed vinyl decal to the front of a beautiful stained wood dresser, painted the negative space around it, and then removed the decal, effectively using it as a reverse stencil.
FURTHER READING:Musings

THE PROJECT: Stealth Drawers
Furniture maker Fin Art gave one of its dressers a stealth coat of blue in the interior of its drawers, only visible when open.
FURTHER READING:Fin Art

THE PROJECT: Colorful Cafeteria Chairs
One crafty blogger reinvented a pair of cafeteria chairs by unscrewing their wood veneer backs and then spray-painting only their steel bases.
FURTHER READING:Møbel Pøbel